It’s “Date Night” Friday…
The one night a week when you and your spouse spend time together… talk about the week… have a nice leisurely dinner… just the two of you.
You’ve lined up a babysitter…
You left a list of contact numbers on the refrigerator door…
You’ve got everything taken care of…
Except what happens to your children if the unthinkable happens and you never make it back home.
If you have minor children and you’re severely injured or worse in an accident, the police may have no choice but to place your children with Child Protective Services if they don’t have information or documentation indicating who you would want to care for your children.
Once the immediate situation has passed, your children could then be at the mercy of the “system.” There is no way the State can know who would be the best choice as a guardian for your children.
So… what do you need to do?
Proper Documentation for Guardianship
You need to have at least these documents in place at all times if you have minor children:
1. Legal documentation naming a short term or temporary guardian in case you become incapacitated for a short period of time, or in the interim between your death and the time your permanent guardian can arrive.
2. Legal documents naming permanent guardians. Make sure you talk to the people you select and that they have copies of these documents to provide to the court.
3. Make sure you have written instructions for anyone taking care of your children so they know exactly what needs to be done if something happens to you.
If all this has made you realize you would like to get your documents in order to make sure that your children and your property are taken care of, call us to schedule your Family Wealth Planning Session today. We can identify what you need to do to plan for your family’s future and answer any questions you have about an effective estate plan. Our Family Wealth Planning Session is normally $750, but this month I’ve made space for the next two people who mention this article to have a complete planning session with me at no charge.
Call the Law Offices of Lisa S. Golshani today and mention this article: 661-362-0770.